Pecan Shortbread Tea Cakes Recipes

PECAN SANDIES (MEXICAN WEDDING COOKIES/CAKE)

Steps:

• Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the water and vanilla.
• Stir in the flour and pecans until well blended.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least four hours.
• Preheat the oven to 325 °F.
• Shape the dough into walnut sized balls or crescents. (Crescent shaped are more the traditional Mexican wedding form of these cookies.)
• Place the dough balls or crescents 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden.
• Cool on a baking rack, then roll in the confectioners sugar. I don't roll them when they are warm as they still will soak up the powdered sugar while cool and this way they don't get sticky.

PECAN SHORTBREAD TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Roll into 1-in. balls; place in greased miniature muffin cups. Lightly press a pecan half into the center of each. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. , For caramel glaze, combine brown sugar, milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and brandy. Drizzle over cookies.

PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla and almond extracts. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter/sugar mixture. Add the pecans and mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut into 2 1/2-inch squares with a plain or fluted cutter (or cut into any shape you like). Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature and serve.

BOURBON PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Grind the nuts with 1/2 cup flour in a food processor. Pulse on and off till the nuts are ground to a fine crumb. Add the rest of the flour and the cornstarch. Pulse to mix.
• In a separate bowl, cream the butter or margarine. Mix in the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and bourbon. Work in the flour mixture. Knead the dough until smooth.
• Lightly spray your shortbread pan, or an 8 inch round pan, with a vegetable oil spray. Firmly press the dough into the pan, working from the center out. Poke the shortbread all over with a fork.
• Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or till lightly browned. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Loosen the edges with a knife, and flip the pan over onto a cutting board. Tap lightly to loosen from pan. Cut into serving pieces while still warm.

EASY PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• To toast pecans, sprinkle in ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until nuts begin to brown, then stirring constantly until nuts are light brown. Remove from heat; cool.
• In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add flour, beating just until blended. Stir in toasted pecans and vanilla.
• Divide dough in half; shape each portion into 2 (1 1/4-inch-thick) logs (about 12 inches long). Wrap in cooking parchment paper; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
• Heat oven to 325°F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper. Unwrap dough; cut into 1/4-inch slices. On cookie sheets, place slices 1/2 inch apart.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 5 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks.